Nicolas Winding Refn Opens Up About Near-Death Experience During Heart Surgery at Cannes

At the Cannes world premiere of his latest film on Monday, May 18, director Nicolas Winding Refn shared an intimate account of a harrowing medical crisis that fundamentally changed his perspective on life and work.

The 55-year-old filmmaker revealed to the Grand Theatre Lumiere audience that he experienced clinical death for more than 20 minutes during heart surgery. He described the medical emergency that preceded the operation, explaining that he had developed a leaking heart—a condition in which blood flows backward through the organ—and was rapidly deteriorating as his lungs filled with fluid.

"Dying is very interesting," Refn told the crowd, recounting how the life-threatening condition had emerged unexpectedly. Before his diagnosis, he said he had reached a creative impasse, believing his career had run its course. Medical professionals initially gave him grim odds, uncertain whether he would survive the procedure or, if he did, what the outcome would entail.

Two weeks after receiving his diagnosis, Refn underwent surgery. In a lighthearted aside, he credited his surgeon's expertise with a humorous comparison, joking that the medical professional possessed abilities rivaling those of a certain Hollywood action star. He described the surgical intervention in vivid terms—the surgeon's skill in repairing his damaged heart and the subsequent resuscitation process that felt, in his words, like being reassembled with electricity like the fictional monster Frankenstein.

The experience prompted a profound reevaluation of his remaining years. Refn calculated that at 50 years old at the time of surgery, he might have approximately 25 years ahead of him—and he resolved to make those years count.

"Suddenly time becomes much more an essence," he reflected. "Time is everything and the interaction with time and when you create the exchange with an audience of taking their time, you have to respect that very well. It's like a golden exchange."

He elaborated on his renewed sense of responsibility as a filmmaker, emphasizing that creators must offer something meaningful in return for the audience's investment. This perspective has extended beyond his professional work into his personal relationships and his aspirations for the next generation.

Refn became emotional as he discussed receiving what he characterized as a second chance from a higher power. He spoke of the rarity of such opportunities in life and his commitment to using this reprieve constructively, pondering how he might expand horizons for his own children and young people more broadly.

His latest project, "Her Private Hell," centers on a group of actresses working on a film production in a futuristic urban setting. The narrative follows Elle, portrayed by Sophie Thatcher, who becomes targeted by a serial killer known as the Leather Man. The ensemble cast includes Charles Melton, Havana Rose Liu, Kristine Froseth, Diego Calva, and Dougray Scott.

The film generated significant acclaim at the festival, earning one of the longest standing ovations of the Cannes program—a 12-minute ovation. The movie is scheduled for theatrical release on July 24.